Compensating device for railroad signals



' (No Model.)

. J. w. 81 J. R. JONES. V GOMPENSATING DEVICE FOR RAILROAD SIGNALS, SWITCHES, &c. No. 578,293.

Patented Mar. 2, 1897. .J.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA W. JONES, OF HARRISBURG, AND JOSEPH R. JONES, OF PHILADEL- PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO THOMAS A. JONES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPENSATING DEVICE FOR RAILROAD SIGNALS, SWITCHES, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,293, dated March 2, 1897.

Application filed September 25,1896. Serial No. 606,951. (No model) To all whom it may concern: G designates a lever which is fulcrumed in 50 Be it known that we, JOSHUA WV. JONES, the present instance at- H to said yoke E, and residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauhas attached to one end thereof one extremity phin,and JOSEPH R. J ONEs,residing in the city of the link J ,the other extremity thereof being 5 and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennpivoted to the weighted end K of the pawl L,

sylvania, citizens of the United States, have which is movably mounted in said yoke E and 55 invented a new and useful Improvement in has a nose M, which is adapted to engage the Compensating Devices for Railroad Signals, teeth of the ratchet-wheel N, which is pref- Switches, &c.,which improvement is fully set erably provided with a sprocket-hub. (Not forth in the following specification and acshown.)-

companying drawings. P designates a spring which is mounted 60 Our invention has relation to a compensatupon the hub of the pawl L, and has its exing device for railroad signals, switches, &c.; tremities Q and R deflected, so as to engage and it consists in the employment of a lever suitable portions of the yoke E and said pawl I suitably fulcrumed and having connections L, respectively, as will be understood from therefrom to a fixed point and to a dog or Fig. 2, so that the tendency will always be 65 pawl, which latter is actuated, as hereinafter for the nose M of the pawl to engage the described, when the proper arm of the operratchet-wheel N when the lever G is released ating-lever is in inferior position. or is in the position seen at the left of Fig. 1. It further consists of novel details of con- S designates a rod extending through a suitstruction, all as will be hereinafter fully set able portion of the lever Gand having its up- 70 forth, and specifically pointed out in the per extremityattached to the adjustable eyeclaims. a bolt Y, which passes through the bar T and Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a is held in position by means of the lock-nuts compensating device for railroad-signals em- Z, said lever being actuated by the contact bodying our invention. Fig. 2 represents an of the nut S therewith, said nut engaging 75 end elevation of a portion of ayoke and springsaid lever at the proper intervals, as will be actuated pawl employed. Fig. 3 represents explained. a plan view of the offset ceiling-bar seen in The bar T consists of the portions U and Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of V, which are attached to the floor-beams in another embodiment of the principle of our any suitable manner, said bar being pro- 8o invention as applied to a corrugated disk and vided with an offset W in order to permit the a corrugated pawl eccentrically mounted ad proper extent of movement to be imparted to jacent thereto. Fig. 5 represents a perspecthe lever A, and having a plurality of open- 5 tive view of a removable weight employed; ings therein, through which the eyebolts Y and Fig. 6 represents a sectional view, on line are adapted to be passed, whereby the posi- 8 5 an, of the weight, showing the manner of suption of the rod or connection S can be shifted porting the same. according to the requirements. Similar letters of reference indicate corre- A designates a chain or similar connection 0 s ondinw arts in the several fi ures. which asses over the hub of the ratchet- 4 a a p Referring to the drawings, A designates an wheel N, said connection having an exten-- o operating-lever which is fulcrumed at a suitsion B, which is adapted to lead to a signal, able point B and is provided with the laterswitch, or other similar device. The conally-extending arms 0 and D, upon which are nection A, after passing over the hub of the mounted the yokes E and F, and since the wheel N, passes thence under the pulley G,

. mechanism carried by each yoke is substanand is attached to a suitable portion D of 5 tially the same a description of one will sufthe traveling pulley E, which is supported fice for both, reference being had to the right upon a chain F, which latter has one exhand yoke E. tremity attached to the eyebolt or similar device G which engages the beam G while the left-hand portion of said chain F passes over the hub of the ratchet-wheel J, which is journaled in the yoke F, said wheel J and its adj nncts being in all respects substantially the same as the wheel N and its adjuncts already described, it being understood that suitable connections K extend from the chain F to a proper portion of the signal or switch. (Not shown.)

L designates a plurality of chains which have one of their ends suitably secured to the beam G or other point, while their other ends are attached to a link which is attached to the pin which passes through the pulley O. M designates a strap or yoke which de pends from the pulley O and carries the weights N therein, the same being increased or diminished, as desired, by the addition of other weights P, said latter weights being connected to each other by means of the supporting devices Q.

In Fig. 4 we have shown another embodiment of the principle of our invention, E designating the yoke, as before, in which is journaled the corrugated disk R, which is adapted to be locked and engaged by the corrugated pawl S, which is eccentrically mounted, said pawl having a body portion T, to which the counterbalance U is attached, to which one end of a suitable link-and-lever connection may be secured, while the other end thereof is attached to any desired fixed point, said pawl T being also provided, if desired, with a spring P of substantially the same construction as that seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The operation is as follows: If we suppose the lever A to be moved from the right to the left, the arm 0 will be raised and the arm D lowered. As the arm 0 rises the connection S, which in the presentinstance is arod, will pass through the opening in the lever G as the latter rises and the spring P of the counterbalance K will cause the nose M of the'pawl to interlock with an adjacent tooth of the ratchet-wheel N. The latter, being now prevented from rotation and the chain A being prevented from movement relative thereto and being lifted upwardly with the yoke, wheel N, and arm C, will exerta pull 011 the connection 13 in the direction of the arrow, thereby imparting the proper movement to the signal arm, switch, 850. The arm D has in the meanwhile been descending, and as soon as it has reached a certain predetermined inferior position the nut S on the rod S will disengage the lever S which corresponds to the lever G and will unlock the pawl automatically from the teeth of the disk J, thereby allowing said disk to freely revolve, and any slack on the connections A and F will be immediately taken up by means of the traveling weights N or P, it being understood that the arm 0 is now in elevated position, while the arm D is in depressed position.

The operation of the mechanism seen in Fig. 4, it is thought, will be clearly understood from the foregoing, it being only necessary to substitutethe corrugated disk R and the corrugated eccentric S for the ratchet-wheel N and the pawl L, having the nose M, as already described.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention we employ weights substantially as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, N designating the weight, having the end portions 13 with an offset neck or body portion 0 the same having the face D raised above the surfaces of the end portions E the sides D of said neck being rounded, and each weight having also holes E therethrough for the insertion of suitable attaching devices, as seen in Fig. 1.

The manner of inserting the weights in position will be apparent from Fig. 6, in which one weight is shown in position and the other in the act of being inserted in place, the latter weight having its thinner portion introduced, first, into the strap or yoke M and bein g afterward turned into position, the weights, when finally superposed upon each other, being interlocked, as is evident, whereby there is no liability of accidental displacement or dislodgment of the same.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a compensating device, a lever having oppositely-extending arms with yokes thereon, ratchet-wheels journaled in said yokes and having sprocket-hubs, a traveling pulley supported on a chain having one end secured to a fixed support, and its other end passing over one of said sprocket-hubs and connected with a signal or other device, a weighted pulley supported on a chain having one end secured to said traveling pulley and its other end passed over the other sprocket-hub and connected with said device, and mechanisms connected with said yokes for automatically locking and unlocking said ratchet wheel and hubs.

2. In a compensating devicc, a lever having arms with yokes mounted thereon, each of said yokes having a ratchet-wheel with a sprocket-hub and a spring-controlled pawl engaging said ratchet-wheel, mechanism for automatically releasing said pawl on alternate movements of said arms, chains connected with fixed support and passin over said hubs respectively, a traveling pulley on one of said chain s,and a weight-pulley on the other chain, and chains secured to said fixed support and to links on the axle of said weight-pulley.

3. I11 a compensating device, a lever, a yoke on an arm thereof, a ratchet-wheel journaled in said yoke, a spring-controlled pawl pivotally mounted and adapted to engage said wheel, a lever suitably fulcrumed and having a link common to itself and to said dog, and a depending rod passing through an opening in said lever and provided with a nut thereon IIS wheels, levers suitably fulcrumed, links common to said levers and dogs, and means for looking and unlocking the latter, whereby one of said dogs and its wheel are enabled to be in engagement when in elevated position, and are disengaged when in depressed position.

5. In a compensating device for a signalarm, a yoke suitably supported, a ratchetwheel journaled therein, a pawl mounted on said yoke, a spring adapted to normally cause the nose of said pawl to engage said wheel, a lever suitably fulcrumed, a link common to said lever and pawl, a connection from said lever to a fixed point, aweighted chain passing over a suitable portion of said wheel, and connections therefrom to a signal, switch &c.

6. In a compensating device, an operatinglever having laterally-extendin g arms thereon, yokes mounted on said arms having ratchet-wheels journaled therein, pawls adapted to engage said wheels, a link-and-lever connection common to said dogs and to said yoke, a rod having one end attached to a fixed point and its other end passing freely through said lever, a nut on said rod underneath said lever,

a weighted chain passing over said ratchetwheels, and connections from said chain adapted to lead to a signal-arm, switch, 850.

'7. In a compensating device, a yoke, a ratchet-wheel journaled therein, a pawl pivotally mounted adjacent said wheel, a counterbalance attached to said pawl, a spring bearing on the latter, a link-and-lever connection common to said pawl and yoke, a connection from said lever to a fixed point, and connections passing over said wheel and adapted to lead to a signal-arm, switch, &c.

8. In a compensating device, a plurality of ratchet-wheels suitably supported, pawls adapted to unlock said wheels when in depressed position, a link-and-lever connection common to said dogs and to theirsupport, and a connection from said lever to a fixed point, in combination with chains or other connections passing over said wheels, one of said connections being secured to a fixed point and carrying a traveling pulley, and the other of said connections being secured to said pulley and carrying a traveling weight.

9. Ina compensating device, laterally-extending arms, ratchet-wheels journaled upon each of said arms, pawls for locking said wheels, and a link-and-lever connection for operating said pawls, in combination with chains adapted to lead'to a signal, switch, &c., passing over said wheels, one of said chains being attached to a fixed point, and carrying a traveling pulley, while the other of said chains is attached to said pulley and carries a traveling weight.

10. In a compensating device, laterally-extending arms, ratchet-wheels suitably journaled th ereupon, pawls adapted to engage and lock and unlock said wheels, a link-and-lever connection for operating each of said pawls, a connection leading from each of said levers to the offset ceiling-bar P, means for supporting said bar, weighted chains passing over suitable portions of said wheels, and connections from the latter adapted to lead to a signal, switch, 850.

11. In a compensating device, laterally-extending arms, ratchet-wheels suitably journaled thereupon, pawls adapted to automatically engage and lock and unlock said wheels, means for releasing the latter, chains passing over suitable portions of said wheels, connections from said wheels adapted to lead to a signal-arm, switch, &c., a pulley supported upon one of said chains, a strap or yoke attached to said pulley and depending therefrom, a plurality of weights carried by said strap, and means for adding or subtracting weights to said strap.

12. The herein-described weight consisting of the end portions B and the connectingneck 0 having its upper and lower faces out of alinement with the upper and lower faces of said end portions.

13. The herein-described weight consisting of the end portions B and the connectingneck 0 having its upper and lower faces out of alinement with the upper and lower faces of said end portions, said neck being also provided with curved sides.

14:. In a compensating device, a yoke or strap consisting of two upright members joined together at their extremities, in combination with a weight adapted to be inserted within said strap, said weight being provided with end portions, and a connecting-neck having its upper and lower faces out of alinement with the upper and lower faces of said end portions.

15. In a compensating lever, an operatinglever having laterally-projecting arms, compensating devices mounted on each arm, an offset ceiling-bar suitably supported, and a link-and-lever connection to each compensating device, in combination with connections leading from said last-mentioned levers to an eyebolt supported in said ceiling-bar, the po sition of said eyebolts being adjustable according to requirements.

16. In a compensating device, an operatinglever, a laterally-extending arm, a ratchetwheel mounted thereon, a pawl engaging said wheel, a yoke in which said pawl and wheel are supported, a link-and-lever connection mounted on a suitable portion of said pawl said yoke, and the other end engaging said and having its ends deflected, one of said ends pawl. engaging said yoke, and the other end engag- JOSHUA W. JONES. ing said pawl. JOSEPH R. JONES.

1'7. Inacornpensatingdevice, an operating- WVitnesses as to signature of Joshua WV. lever, a laterally extending arm, a yoke Jones: mounted on the latter, a ratchet-and-pawl EUGENE SNYDER, device supported by said yoke, means for un- J. PAUL JONES. looking said pawl at the proper intervals and Witnesses as to signature of Joseph R. restoring a spring, said spring being mounted Jones on a suitable portion of said pawl and having JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, its ends deflected, one of said ends engaging E. HAYWARD FAiRBANKs. 

